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Mexican Rose 'Hell is empty and all the devils are here'
Chapter 2
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previously
Los Angeles || Office of Special Projects || September 13
It had been fun, practicing with a camera, a microphone and a team that was bantering over who should do what, but in the end both Callen and Deeks knew exactly how to handle the technical equipment.
"Always told you Callen, you have a better face for radio", Kensi snorted.
He took the bait with a grin. "Remember I'm famous for being a ghost. You'd never be able to catch that on camera."
"I'm with you, Callen," Deeks smiled, "Different reason though. Just imagine you're in front of the camera - 'A boo is a lot louder than a cheer. If you have 10 people cheering and one person booing, all you hear is the booing'."
"Now don't you tell me those are your own words," Sam glared at the younger detective.
A chuckle of Deeks came his way. "Why, Sam Hanna, do you think I would not be the one to come up with wise words like this?"
"Too sudden, Deeks. We're not used to this kind of wisdom in the team. So?"
"Lance Armstrong it is guys. And Sam? You're absurdly natural on screen. So, be my guest."
Nell had observed the team together with Hetty. "It makes me have to change the paperwork before they leave, Hetty," she said. "I really had thought they would have chosen differently, Deeks and Kensi in front of the camera."
"Never underestimate the power of teamwork, miss Jones. Mixing tasks and trusting your partners, trusting your team is one of the basics in this line of work. They all understand that. And they, on the other hand, will be trusting you and mister Beale to have their backs, whatever may happen." No matter what her young technical operator and intelligence analyst might think, without them, this team of four could not function the way it did without the fifth and sixth member.
Then, Hetty opened the door, clapped her hands and said "Brilliant performances, all of you. Now, I suggest you come back at ops for the last briefing."
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previously
Domestic Flight from LAX to SAT
"Guys, listen. This, ehm, this thing - this problem with beheading I was reading about. You think Eric put it in the wrong files on purpose? I mean, this is not Al Qaida, is it? We're going to visit our civilized neigbors, embrace the culture, inhale traditions, party all night long…" Deeks smiled nervously.
"We'll have your back, buddy," Callen spoke. Despite all possible trouble they might meet, this would be the least he was worried about.
"Great. Thank you, that cheers me up. NOT. Who will have your back then?"
"Scalping. That is what I would be afraid of", Sam said, deadpanned. "But in your case? Nâh. Too much work to detangle your hair first. Remember, our ancient Indian ancestors are related to the Maya's. Scalping, that's what they might do."
"Anything troubling you beforehand, Kenz?" Callen asked, as she was less talkative than they were used to. It was his task as a team leader to smoothen the operation as it came their way and he thought he recognized her ever so steady mood, but wanted confirmation too. She shook her head and smiled "No, why?"
"The girl will have her burritos, what more can she want? Except of course a Mojito with me on a warm beach," Deeks now joked, definitely more relaxed than before. "A mosquito for you, you mean?" Kensi replied.
"A Mojito, Fern. You pronounced it wrongly."
"Nope. Mojito for me, the mosquitos for you. No beaches around, surfer boy. This will be the bush-bush we'll visit, and I took enough DEET to kill all those mosquitos that come near me. And I know DEET is not in your personal equipment bag, Deeks," his partner smiled.
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From San Antonio airport on, Hetty had arranged that a van from NBC Texas was available for them. It took a nearly five-hour drive to reach the hotel that Nell booked for them in the city of Monterrey. Talk was more seriously by now, as they planned their first day of filming in the city. The real thing would obviously happen once they'd enter the Tamaulipas region. At least, that was what they all expected.
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Monterrey, Mexico || el Barrio Antiguo
After a nearly sleepless night that was filled with fireworks and crowded streets, the next morning they were up right in the middle of the festivities that took place because of the 'Aniversario de Independencia', the Mexican Independence day. With their press cards visible on key cords, they started their work from the large square where a long procession started. Streets were bursting with activity, music, parades, processions and carnival, traditional Matlachines performing everywhere – it wasn't that difficult to look at it all through the eyes of a reporter.
"This area, this very neighborhood in the old center of town may probably be the most dangerous in the city of Monterrey," Sam let the viewers and his cameraman, know. "Notwithstanding the scenic facades, inside the buildings and its alleys behind it, every year several kidnappings take place and murders are committed."
Kensi continued "The Barrio Antiguo, the old center, is now known to be exploited by Los Zitas, one of the Mexican cartels that is known not only for smuggling drugs to the United States, but also for extortion, kidnapping and ruthless assassinations."
"Earlier this year, the mayor of Monterrey stimulated unemployed citizens to form a 'civil force', that should scare away the cartels from the center of town. Working for the Civil Force means income, so your kids can attend school normally and above all, you gain respect. The experiment worked out well so far – wherever the Civil Force is active, the neighborhoods feel safer. The Civil Force can be recognized by its blue uniforms and blue pickup trucks." Sam recited.
Deeks lowered his camera. "Now that will do. Enough of this educational voice. Crap, Sam, it sounds as if you're earning a living as a voice-over for a far too slow documentary about a turtle and a snail somewhere in the bush. If you continue I'm afraid I am going to do very stupid things."
A smirk came from the team leader's face as he switched off the microphone. "Now, we all know what that would lead to, don't we? Deeks and stupid things. Certainly something I want to avoid. So, how about a break?"
"Coffee, yes please. And I'm hungry too," Kensi agreed to the suggestion. "We just walked past one of the cutest restaurants I've ever seen."
The bustle seemed to have left the area when the four of them were enjoying their coffees and started planning the second part of this day.
"It's fake, all of our show. Why bother to continue this seriously?" Deeks wanted to know. "I mean, we could—" He did not finish the sentence, because a group of four large man dressed in blue uniforms entered the cantina and one of them exclaimed "Well, if that isn't , Sam Hanna!"
It struck Sam, the others knew when they saw the sudden change in his stance. Seeing Hank Webster, one of his former team of Navy Seals, was certainly not what Sam had expected at all.
"So… How come you're dressed up as one of the 'Civil Force's", Hank?" Sam questioned. He sensed his team members were feeling uneasy by the fact that somebody from the senior agent's past suddenly surfaced at the place least expected.
"Man, it's a long story, but I'll cut it short," Webster answered. "They needed an experienced leader, so, here I am." It sounded simple, plausible. And yet, hearing it, observing the guy, Callen felt something was off. Gut feeling. He always trusted that.
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Oh, the suggestion had been so right. So was the performance. Once again, Deeks and Callen had taken the camera and the microphone, while Sam and Kensi would be the ones to interview Webster.
They all arrived at the location that Webster suggested, and concentrating on the fake interview, it was Callen who noticed the small nod of one of Webster's team. Definitely to somebody that must have been behind him and Deeks.
"Sam—" before he could express his worries, Webster shouted to join him and the others in the pickup truck. Sam and Kensi managed to do so.
Only Deeks was aware of the fact that all went really wrong.
Only Deeks, because before he knew it, Callen was floored by a hit of a barrel of a gun.
All because Callen had be the only one who sensed something was wrong.
All because Sam had been recognized.
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A/N the names that are used in this chapter and in the next chapters may sound familiar. Of course they may belong to real people and organizations, but it was never my intention to identify whoever in whatever situation. All names used are pure fictional &coincidental!